Lupine plant named ‘Tequila Flame’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lupine plant named ‘Tequila Flame’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; numerous large red and yellow bi-colored flowers arranged on dense terminal racemes; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lupinus hybrid.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TEQUILA FLAME’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lupine plant, botanically known as Lupinus hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Tequila Flame’.

The new Lupine plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Devon, United Kingdom. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new uniform and freely flowering Lupine plants with large attractive flowers.

The new Lupine plant originated from an open-pollination in June, 2005 of a seedling selection of Lupinus hybrid identified as Lupinus Russell Hybrid Seedling WCL 044/98, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Lupinus hybrid as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lupine plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in June, 2006 as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Devon, United Kingdom.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lupine plant by micro propagation in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands since March, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Lupine plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lupine have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Tequila Flame’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Tequila Flame’ as a new and distinct Lupine plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Numerous large red and yellow bi-colored flowers arranged on         dense terminal racemes.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lupine can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Lupine differ from plants of the female parent selection primarily in plant growth habit and flower color.

Plants of the new Lupine can be compared to plants of Lupinus hybrid ‘Manhattan Lights’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,868. Plants of the new Lupine differ from plants of ‘Manhattan Lights’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lupine are shorter than plants of         ‘Manhattan Lights’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lupine and ‘Manhattan Lights’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Manhattan Lights’ have burgundy and         yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lupine can also be compared to plants of Lupinus hybrid ‘Saffron’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,802. Plants of the new Lupine differ from plants of ‘Saffron’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lupine are taller than plants of ‘Saffron’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lupine and ‘Saffron’ differ in flower color         as plants of ‘Saffron’ have yellow-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Lupine plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Lupine plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Desert Sun’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Desert Sun’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Desert Sun’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants of the new Lupine grown during the early summer in outdoor nursery in Vogelenzang, The Netherlands and under cultural practices which closely approximate commercial Lupine production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 26° C. and night temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 16° C. Plants were two years old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lupinus hybrid ‘Tequila Flame’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lupinus Russell Hybrid Seedling WCL             044/98, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Lupinus             hybrid, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By micro propagation.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About four to five days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five to             six weeks at 15° C. to 17° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About seven to             eight weeks at 15° C. to 17° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; creamy white to light brown             in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Main tap root with low lateral branching;             medium in density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit; vigorous growth             habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit.         -   Plant height.—About 67.8 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 58.3 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 31.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color.—Close to 144A to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, palmately compound with about twelve             leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 19.7 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 19.7 cm.         -   Leaflet length.—About 11.4 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 2.9 cm.         -   Leaf shape.—Orbicular.         -   Leaflet shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Leaflet base.—Cuneate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Entire.         -   Leaflet texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Leaflet texture, lower surface.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             143A to 143B. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to             139C. Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to             N137D; venation, close to 144A to 144B. Fully expanded             leaflets, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation, close to             138A to 138B.         -   Leaf petiole.—Length: About 19.8 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A; petioles of upper             leaves tinged with close to 183C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance/arrangement.—Single large papilionaceous             flowers arranged in dense racemes; freely flowering habit             with usually about 200 flowers developing per inflorescence;             flowers face mostly outwardly.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from late             spring through the summer in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two weeks on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; pleasant and sweet.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 33.1 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6.6 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.4 cm by 2.4 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.4 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 1D and 2D; towards the base,             close to 186A; base, close to 54A to 54B; calyx, close to             145C.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Flowers papilionaceous with an             upper standard petal, two lateral petals and a lower keel of             two united petals. Length: Upper standard petal: About             1.9 cm. Lateral petals: About 2 cm. Lower keel: About             1.6 cm. Width: Upper standard petal: About 1.1 cm. Lateral             petals: About 1.3 cm. Lower keel: About 1 cm. Shape: Upper             standard petal: Orbicular; convex. Lateral petals: Obovate;             curved and concave. Lower keel: Ovate; curved and folded.             Apex: Upper standard petal: Emarginate. Lateral petals:             Rounded. Lower keel: Caudate. Margin, all petals: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces, all petals: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, when opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Upper standard petal: Between 47C and 50B; central             blotch, close to 4B; with development, ground color becoming             closer to 53C to 53D. Lateral petals: Close to 47C; with             development, color becoming closer to 53C to 53D. Lower             keel: Close to 51D; apex, close to 187A; color does not             change with development. Color, when opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Upper standard petal: Close to 51A;             central blotch, close to 4A; with development, ground color             becoming closer to 53C to 53D. Lateral petals: Close to 47B;             with development, color becoming closer to 53C to 53D. Lower             keel: Close to 51D; apex, close to 187A; color does not             change with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Two. Length: About 7 mm. Width:             About 6 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Densely             pubescent. Color, when opening, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 145C. Color, fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 145B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 32.7 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Between 183A to 183B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 60° from peduncle             axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 183D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower: About             ten. Filament length: About 4 mm to 7 mm. Filament color:             Close to 144B to 144C. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther             length: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 169B to 169D.             Amount of pollen: Moderate to abundant. Pollen color: Close             to 24A. Gynoecium: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:             About 1.3 cm. Style length: About 1.25 cm. Style color:             Close to 150D. Stigma shaped: Club-shaped, fringed. Stigma             color: Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to 144C to 144D.         -   Fruits.—Quantity per flower: One. Length: About 4.6 cm.             Diameter: About 1 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color:             Close to 165A.         -   Seeds.—Quantity per fruit: About ten. Length: About 5 mm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Color: Close to 200A. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lupine have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, high     temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone     5. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lupine have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lupine     plants. 

1. A new and distinct Lupine plant named ‘Tequila Flame’ as illustrated and described. 